Bodies of dead cows found washed up in Canary Islands’ waters

CATTLE SHIPS: The bodies are thought to have come from livestock ships.
Credit: YouTube/ Ardiel Rodriguez

AT LEAST three bodies of dead cows have been washed up in the water off the Canary Islands.

One decomposing carcass was found on a beach near Granadilla de Abona, Tenerife, while another was found near El Medano, Tenerife, and a third was found at sea.

A man was filmed dragging the cow’s body onto the beach where it was taken to a landfill site by council workers.

The corpses are thought to have come from ships transporting livestock from South America, and which reportedly throw animals overboard when they die in transit. According to media reports, the boat responsible could be the Polaris II, a Panamanian cattle ship, which transports from South America to Europe and North Africa.

The Canary Islands’ Ministry of Agriculture said: “[They] come from all these boats that carry the cattle from the American continent, animals that in all probability died on board and were thrown into the sea.” According to general director of livestock, David de Vera: “[This] is prohibited by law.”

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